Select Local Merchants

New York Sports Clubs, part of Town Sports International's network of fitness loci, opens up a number of equipment-stocked facilities across New York to exercisers. Strength-training gear, such as circuit machines, free weights, and medicine balls, molds muscles into chiseled depictions of physical might. Sessions on cardio machines, ranging from treadmills and ellipticals to upright and recumbent stationary bicycles, inspire burnt calories to pack up and move to cooler climates. Each club offers a schedule of group classes that draws from more than 100 fitness styles, including Pilates, yoga, and boxing, ensuring that no member has to jazzercise without a spotter. Each location rewards exercisers for sweating in its vicinity with special features such as babysitting, saunas, and steam rooms.

While many tanning salons offer two or three levels of UV tanning, Body Bronze Tanning kicks it up a notch with seven beds spanning five levels of intensity. Split between traditional and standup models, each unit has unique and innovative features, such as voice-activated controls, air conditioning, and a barbershop quintet that hums relaxing ocean sounds. UV-free spray tans are applied by airbrushing extraordinaire Jessica Bednar, who recently completed her masters spray-tanning certification. Jessica blends custom Norvell solutions before applying them with a continuous flow HVLP wide-point spray gun to create natural-looking color that lasts for up to 10 days.

Active Care Wellness Center knows that many clients come to the chiropractor when they are in pain—neck aches, back pain, or headaches, typically—but it can also be a preventative measure to stave off future discomfort. At Active Care Wellness Center, they prescribe treatments including corrective exercises to strengthen connective tissue and nutritional counseling to convince patients that swallowing bricks won’t fortify the backbone.

Board-certified plastic surgeon, Edward S. Lee and his highly trained team of body buffers combine recent technological advances and a strong medical background to beautify bodies and revise visages. During the Zerona treatment series, five low-level lasers melt fat, jettisoning plump cells so that they can be safely eliminated by the lymphatic system. The 40-minute procedure is repeated about every other day for two weeks for maximum effectiveness and is designed to remove 2–6 inches from the treated area. The procedure requires no surgery or injections, has minimal down time, and—unlike the vice grip of a new father-in-law's suggestively sinister handshake—is virtually pain free. The Zerona treatment is ideal for the waist, hips, thighs, back, buttocks, or anywhere else with localized pockets of fat that have remained resistant to diet, exercise, and threats to take away their car privileges. Zerona is only available at the Englewood Cliffs location.

If tuna and yellowtail are part of your plans for the evening, check out U-Yee Sushi in Woodbridge Township's Iselin neighborhood.
Both low-fat and gluten-free menu items are offered at U-Yee Sushi.
U-Yee Sushi also provides alcohol, so diners don't have to worry about bringing their own bottle.
Take the kids along too — U-Yee Sushi is a great spot for families with food that even little ones will love.
Complimentary wifi is available as well.
Whether it's just you and a date or you're bringing the whole gang, it's best to call ahead and make a reservation.
No need for a wardrobe change when you hit U-Yee Sushi — it's strictly casual.
Always five minutes behind schedule? Pick up your food to go instead.
Score! U-Yee Sushi provides free parking to all diners in the lot next door.
Cyclists will love the spacious bike racks outside of U-Yee Sushi.
U-Yee Sushi offers a nice selection of mid-range cuisine, so you can expect a meal there to cost about $30 or less per person.

Fall head over heels for Pizza Time Restaurant — this Italian hot spot is a fantastic spot for your next dinner date.
Pizza Time Restaurant is a local eatery that serves up both gluten-free and low-fat dishes.
Save money on a sitter — kids are welcome to join the table at Pizza Time Restaurant.
Call ahead for reservations to ensure your table is waiting for you when you arrive.
The dress code at Pizza Time Restaurant is as relaxed as the ambience, so wear whatever suits you.
For those in a hurry, the pizzeria lets you take your grub to go.
If you need to feed a big crowd, Pizza Time Restaurant also offers catering services for parties and get-togethers.
Don't waste time or money searching for a parking space — pull into the lot next door at no extra charge.
Dining at Pizza Time Restaurant will set you back about $30 per person on average.
Cash is the only payment method accepted by Pizza Time Restaurant.

Groupon Guide

An Art-Packed Bike Trip to Long Island City | Kasia Mychajlowycz
Follow our 50-minute itinerary to skyline views and Noguchi sculptures as you breeze from the UES to Queens.
At FIKA, Chocolate is a Work of Art | Amy L. Hayden
Take a peek inside the café's Tribeca factory, where Håkan Mårtensson creates chocolate sculptures inspired by toadstools and Star Wars.
Cheap Eats Before a Free Concert in Prospect Park | Kasia Mychajlowycz
From vegetarian Chinese food to fat, juicy cheeseburgers, the cuisine at these four restaurants is ideal for fueling up before a show.
The Donut Pub: A New Fad at an Old New York Institution | Amy L. Hayden
A peek inside a donut shop that's been serving ring-shaped pastry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since the '60s.
Tasting Menu: Porsena Chef Sara Jenkins Picks Her Favorite NYC Restaurants | Halley Lawrence
She’s been called “one of the few chefs in America who understands Italy and how Italians eat.” So where does she dine when she’s not in the kitchen?
The Other Madison Avenue: Five Vintage Finds on the Upper East Side | Kasia Mychajlowycz
Tucked in among expensive salons and groceries, these resale and consignment shops offer the best designer-clothing deals in the city.
Six Overlooked But Awesome Exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History | Mel Kassel
You’ve seen the dinosaurs, but what about the dragons? Or the sapphire that was stolen in a 1960s jewel heist?
An Art-Filled Beach Day at PS1's Rockaway! | Kasia Mychajlowycz
From photography by Patti Smith to cheap beachside beer, here's what to look out for at PS1's latest offsite exhibit.

Biking is a great and safe way to see New York City—no, seriously! In the past decade, the city has seen a surge in the number of cyclists rolling through its streets. Dedicated bike lanes now connect many parts of the city, making it possible to ride without having to do battle with Manhattan traffic. The leisure ride described below—or any part of it, depending on what you’re up for—takes riders along both sides of the East River, and can easily be done in one weekend afternoon: the whole route takes about 50 minutes. It’s all on bike paths or lanes, and best of all, it takes you right to some of Long Island City’s cultural gems, all without having to wait on a single subterranean subway platform while the sun shines without you.
Hug the shoreline on your way to Wards Island
This ride starts from the quiet and scenic neighborhood of Yorkville—that northeast slice of the Upper East Side that prides itself on not being the Upper East Side. You’ll be zipping along the riverside promenade for pedestrians and cyclists that extends all along the east side of Manhattan. Starting on the stretch of promenade that goes through Carl Schurz Park, ride north past Gracie Mansion until you get to the Wards Island Bridge at 103rd Street. Twice along this route, you’ll have to lug your sweet ride up or down a flight of stairs—but luckily, they’ve installed these neat bicycle rails so you can just push your bicycle up without having to carry it.
Once you cross over to Wards Island, you’ll ride pretty on wide asphalt paths surrounded by lots of gardens and greenery. Savor the scenery as you proceed on your way to the next and last bridge.
Wards Island Bridge as seen from Wards Island.
Huff and puff your way up the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge is admittedly unscenic when compared to the now-defunct Hell Gate Bridge right beside it. It is also the most challenging part of the trip. The ramp up to the bridge is a good five-minute uphill ride (enough to induce red-faced panting from me), and it’s a bit noisy, though the path is safe and separated from all car traffic. Technically, you are required to walk your bike on all parts of the bridge, though this seems to be a widely disregarded rule. But your struggle will be rewarded—after the uphill climb, it’s a leisurely stroll or roll down on the other side.
Hell Gate Bridge.
Absorb some art at Socrates Sculpture Park
Your first stop in Long Island City, Queens, is Socrates Sculpture Park, open every day from 10 a.m. to sunset. The sculptural works on view change regularly, there’s free yoga and tai chi every weekend, and it offers a beautiful view of Manhattan. If you want a break from the sun, skip this park and head to the Noguchi Museum just across the road (admission is $10). You’ll find a sculpture collection inside, as well as a sculpture garden in the courtyard and a cute café.
A sculpture at the Noguchi museum.
Treat yourself to street food at the LIC Flea
You’ve probably worked up an appetite by now with all this physical activity and appreciation of culture, so cruise down the Vernon Boulevard bike path to the food tents at the Long Island City Flea. Vendors there offer the cross-cultural foods that are the hallmark of so many Brooklyn outdoor events, such as burgers, dumplings, empanadas, salads, and lemonades. If you’re in the mood to shop, there’s also antiques, artwork, clothing, and knickknacks aplenty on sale, with what seems to me like better prices than flea markets you’ll find in the “hipper” borough to the south.
Eclectic food options at the Long Island City Flea. Photo courtesy of the Long Island City Flea.
Relax with scenic views in Hunter’s Point South Park
After the LIC Flea, head south along the water or bike paths to one of the city’s newest parks, an industrial site turned landscaping beauty called Hunter’s Point South Park. Built last year, the park is one of the upshots of the gentrification of Long Island City, with sleek landscaping, weirdly fancy public bathrooms, and a beautiful view of the city (as the stunning photos on the architects’ website show). A wide, smooth path leads across the park’s sprawling lawns toward piers packed with park benches from the future, perfectly designed for an intrepid cyclist to take a well-deserved break.
A view of Long Island City from Hunter's Point South Park.
Choose your own bike adventure
From here, you have a few options to finish out your day:
If you haven’t had enough culture, head to MoMA PS1, a few minutes’ ride northeast. It’s a must-see, $5-admission museum housing MoMA’s contemporary collection. (Note, though, that on Saturdays until September 6, the museum closes its galleries and instead hosts concerts in its courtyard that cost $20.)
Ride over the Pulaski Bridge to Williamsburg’s many restaurants and bars (don’t drink and ride—remember bikes are allowed on the MTA).
Head home, knowing you’ve made the most of one of our last summer days this year.
Check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City.
Photos by Kasia Mychajlowycz unless otherwise noted.

On this week’s agenda: thought-provoking video art, an all-food market, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Greil Marcus, and Mamma Mia! on Broadway. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in New York City.
Nam June Paik: Becoming Robot
Upper East Side | Opens Friday, September 5
Sure, you could go see the Matisse cut-outs at the Museum of Modern Art, but for an art exhibit that's colorful and relevant to modern concerns, look no further than the Asia Society Museum. Considered the father of video art, the late Nam June Paik was fascinated by the manipulative power of technology. As funny as they are thought-provoking, his artworks on display here include a TV you can sit on to be reminded of the shrinking gap between human and machine. (725 Park Ave.; $7–$12)
Smorgasburg
Williamsburg | Saturday, September 6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you haven't visited Smorgasburg yet this summer, do yourself a favor and plan a trip to East River State Park on Saturday. This all-food pop-up market features 100 vendors from across the boroughs, all converging on the Williamsburg waterfront to dole out packaged and prepared treats. (Kent Ave. and N. 7th St.; free)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Madison Square Garden
Midtown Manhattan | Wednesday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.
The World's Most Famous Arena will host one of America's most enduring rock bands when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers roll into town with special guest Steve Winwood. The band's latest studio album, Hypnotic Eye, marks a return to their rollicking '60s form, and the bluesy guitar riffs in tunes like ''Fault Lines'' and ''Power Drunk'' sound like they were written to rock the rafters at MSG. (4 Pennsylvania Plaza; $56–$137; buy tickets here)
Greil Marcus and Sasha Frere-Jones Talk Rock 'n' Roll
Clinton Hill | Wednesday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.
Greil Marcus is considered by many to be the founder of modern rock criticism, and Sasha Frere-Jones is one of the many writers who have benefitted from his influence. Frere-Jones, who writes for the New Yorker, will sit down with Marcus at St. Joseph's College on Wednesday to discuss the latter's new book, The History of Rock 'n' Roll in Ten Songs. The price of admission includes a copy of the book, which attendees can have signed after the discussion. (245 Clinton Ave.; $25; buy tickets here)
Mamma Mia! at Broadhurst Theatre
Theater District | Through Saturday, September 13
A lighthearted romp of a musical, Mamma Mia! chronicles a daughter's quest to find her true father before her wedding day. It all happens to the sparkling sounds of ABBA, the Swedish pop group behind such hits as ''Dancing Queen,'' ''Knowing Me, Knowing You,'' ''The Winner Takes It All,'' and of course, the title track. (235 W. 44th St.; $49; buy tickets here)